Gemotions

The tiny, unassuming envelope felt weighty in her palm. It was tucked behind a dusty box of old family photos in the attic. Inside, a crisp bank statement. Her heart thumped a frantic rhythm against her ribs as she read the balance. A gasp escaped her lips, a sound of sheer disbelief and… something else. Something warm and bubbly and effervescent. She bit her lip, a wide grin threatening to split her face. This was… unexpected.

She practically skipped down the creaky stairs, the envelope clutched to her chest. Dinner could wait. The chipped teacups, the mismatched plates – everything in their cluttered, comfortable home seemed to glow with a newfound brilliance. Tomorrow, she thought, she was getting that new, ludicrously expensive espresso machine. And maybe… just maybe… that trip to Italy they’d always dreamed of.